Autographic register



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Shet 1. J. KIRBY, JI'.

AUTOGRAPHIG REGISTER. I No. 469,666. I Patented Feb. 23, 1892.

, a hwwboz we scams Pz'rzns co., FNoIo-uma, WASHINGTON, u. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN KIRBY, JR., OF DAYTON, OHIO.

AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER.

\ S BECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,666, dated February 23, 1892.

Application filed October 14, 1889. Serial No. 326,959. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN KIRBY, J r., of Dayton, county of Montgomery, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Autographic Registers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to an autographic register in which a plurality of strips of paper are unwound from'one or more delivery-reels and pass over a writing-tablet carrying carhon-paper or other suitable manifolding material, which is interposed between the paper strips, whereby a number of impressions may be made by one writing, the strips being separated after leaving the manifolding material, the lower strip passing to a place of concealment Within the register-case and the other strip or strips passing outside of the case, where the portion written upon may be severed from the remainder of the strip or strips.

The objects of my invent-ion are to provide means for severing and filing within the register-case slips severed from one of the several paper strips on which copies of writing are made, to provide means for making a printed impression upon one of the strips at each operation of the register, and to provide means for feeding the paper through the machine in such manner that only the required length of strips is moved forward at each operation. I accomplish these objects by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a broken perspective view of my register with the several working parts in the positions they occupy when the paper has been moved forward, the under strip severed, the movable blade of the paper-cutter at the point of release, and the filing -arm about to be brought into operation, one of the hinged ends of the case being shown in dotted lines partly open. Fig. '2 is a longitudinal central sectional View of the register, looking to the right, the cutter-operating cam being shown by dotted lines in the position it occupies when the requisite quantity of paper has been moved forward and the cutter is about to be brought into operation by the reverse movement of the crank. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central sectional view of the register, looking to the left, with the filing-arm at the point'of release after having performed its function. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the register with a portion of the top of the case removed. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the register, taken on the line or x of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an ordinary self-inking handstamp adapted for use in my register. Fig. 7 is a detail view clearly showing the spring interposed between the end of the movable blade of the cutter and the sliding arm. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a tag and fastener for binding the severed slips when taken from the register-case. Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of transferring the slips from the file to the binder shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a bunch of slips bound ready for filing away for future reference.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the register-case, preferably of metal, consist ing of the two sides 1 2, front 3, hinged to a fixed portion 4., hinged back 5, fixed top portion 6, in which there is a sight-opening or window 7, a removable top portion 8, having an opening 9, through which the writing is done, and cross-bars 10 for connecting the sides of the case, the whole being hinged and locked to a base B.

O is the main shaft journaled in the sides of the case and provided at one end outside of the case with a crank D and on its opposite end inside the case with a cam c. On this shaft is loosely mounteda feed-roller or paper-propelling cylinder E, to one end of which is rigidly secu red a ratchet-disk F, having one series of teeth 11 on its periphery and another series 12 on its side, and on the shaft near this disk is rigidlysecured a wheel G, which I term the pawl-carrier, provided on its inner side with a pawl 13, which engages with the teeth 12 on the'disk and on its outer side with two lateral pins 14 and 15, the shaft 0, crank D, and pawl-carrier G constituting what I term the feed-roller-operating mechanism. The cylinder is provided on its periphery near each end with a series of pins 16,

for a purpose hereinafter explained.

H represents what may be termed a sliding or movable arm or frame, comprising a horizontal base-bar h, a vertical bracket 7:

and a horizontal arm 7L2, projecting forward of the bracket, the whole being preferably formed integral. This frame is movably secured to the side 1 of the case by means of screws 17, passed through a slot 18 in the base-bar and also through a slot 19 in the arm. It is given a forward sliding movement by means of the cam c, secured on the end of shaft 0, coming into contact with the rear edge of an arm a, on which there is a lateral pin 20, (seen dotted,) which contacts with the bracket h of frame II, the lower end of the said arm being pivoted to the base-bar and provided with a too 21, on which bears a spring 22, secured to the base-bar, the purpose of this spring being to hold the arm up in posit-ion to be operated on by the cam. A coil-spring 23, one end of which is secured to the case and the other to the frame, serves to return the frame to its normal position.

I represents guides for the slip of paper to be filed, formed by laterally-extending flanges 24, secured to the sides 1 and 2 of the case, the guides being curved so as to direct the slip to a position over the file f, located in the forward part of the register-case, which part forms the filingcompartment, the file being a small tube removably secured in the base of the register and provided with an enlargedremovable spear-shaped head 25, the latter having a shank fitting snugly in the tube, as seen in Fig. 3.

To lugs 26 and 27, projecting inwardly from the sides of the case near the top and adjacent to the guides I, is secured the stationary blade J of a paper-cutter for severing the slip of paper to be filed. The movable blade J has a curved tongue j at one end, which is pivoted to the lug 26 underneath the corresponding end of the stationary blade. The opposite end of the movable blade is slotted at 28, and is connected with an inwardly-pro jecting lug 29 on the arm h of frame H by a screw 30, passing through the slot and taking into the lug, the slotted connection permit ting this end of the blade to move in the arc of a circle, s otras to make a shearing out. Between the lug 29 and the end of blade J ,ther is a spiral spring 8, whose function is to keep the movable blade in close contact with the under side of the stationary blade while making a out.

For the purpose of holding the paper while the slip is being severed from the strip I employ two pressure-arms K, each of which coacts with one of the guides 1, these arms being carried by a rock-shaft 31, journaled in the sides of the case. -The arms are depressed by a shoulder on the sliding arm 72, of frame H riding over a finger 32 and thereby rocking the shaft forward, a coil-spring 33, attached to the case and to anotherfinger34 on the shaft, serving to return the pressure-arms to their normal position. I

L is a filing-arm formed of wire with a loop Z at its free end to pass over the file, its other end being connected with a rock-shaft 35,

which is journaled in the sides of the case. On one end of this shaft is fixed a lever M, having a counter-weight m. This lever, which is operated by the pin 14 on the pawl-carrier G, is in two sections, the upper one, which is curved at its upper end, being hinged at 36 to the lower one in such a manner that it will turn on the hinge only in the rearward direction. A leaf-spring 37, attached to the lower section of the lever and bearing against the upper section, serves to return the latter to its proper position. r

N is a printing device of the ordinary selfinking hand-stamp variety,located slightly above the fixed portion 6 of the top of the case. Through its handle is passed a rod 38, to each end of which is secured a verticalarm 39, andto the lower end of each arm is pivoted a link 40, one of which has a downwardly-hanging extension 41, with which, in the forward movement of sliding frame II, the end of arm 72,2 comes into contact and causes the printing device to make an impression, the other ends of the links 40 being pivoted on a rod 42, journaled in the sides of the case. A leaf-spring 43, secured to the case, bears against the extension 41 and serves in an obvious manner to return the printing device to its normal position after eachoperation.

For purpose of illustration I have shown a single reel 0 journaled in the rear portion of the case, and on which are wound in the present instance three paper strips 44 45 46, one over another, as seen in the drawings. These strips, which are perforated along their sides, pass over small rollers 47 48 49, thence over a writing-tablet P, on which there are sheets of carbon-paper or other suitable manifolding material 50, which is interposed between the strips, and thence. onto cylinder E, whose pins 16 engage with the perforations in the paper strips, the paper being pressed on the cylinder to insure such engagement by means of two pressure-rollers 51, and thence on leaving the cylinder the upper two strips are passed out of an opening 52 in the top of the case, while the lower strip is passed under the sight-opening 7 in the fixed portion 6 of the case, the latter strip in the operation of the machine being borne to the guides on strippers 53, which also serve to raise the paper strips clear of the pins 16 on cylinder E. These strippers consist of four wires, se cured at one end to a cross-bar 10, extending across the case, then led up onto the cylinder, which is grooved at 54 on each side of the rows of pins 16 to receive them, and then carried horizontally forward to the flanges 24, forming the guides I, to which their other ends are secured.

The mechanism being in the position shown in Fig. 2, and assuming that the ends of the strips 44 and 45 are just outside of the opening 52 and the end of the strip 46 underlies the rear end of the sight-opening 7, the operation of the register will be as follows: Now the operator makes an entry on the upper strip 44 through the opening 9 in the case, which entry is transferred by the manifolding material to the other strips 45 and 46. He then turns crank D forward, when pawl 13 on the pawl-carrier G engages with one of the teeth 12 on ratchet-disk F, thereby turning cylinder E until pin 15 on pawl-carrier G comes into contact with a stop-lug 55, (see Fig. 3,) secured to the side 2 of the case, and stops the further revolution of the cylinder, this partial revolution of the cylinder being sufficient to feed forward only the desired length of paper to form the slips when detaehed, the upper two strips passing forward over the top of the case and under the printing device, and the lower strip passing down the guides I inside the case as far as the cutting device, as seen in Fig. 3, leaving the portion written upon directly under the sight-opening 7. The operator now turns shaft 0 backward; but as the cylinder is loose upon the shaft it remains at rest, (being prevented from any accidental backward movement by a pawl 56, secured to the end of one of the cross-bars 10, engaging with the teeth 11 on the disk,) the pawl 13 riding freely over the teeth 12. Then the mechanism is at rest, the cam c is close to arm a of frame H, (see dotted lines in Fig. 2,) the pin 20 on said arms is against bracket h, and the finger 32 on shaft 31 is in contact with the shoulder on arm 71 Now as shaft 0 is revolved backward the cam slides frame H forward, when the shoulder on arm h rides over finger 32, rocking the shaft 31, and thereby depressing the pressure-arms K to the position shown in Fig. 3, so as to hold the paper taut while being severed. As frame I-I moves forward, the movable blade J of the papercut-ter is carried close under the stationary blade, severing the slip, (guides I being open at 57 to permit this operation of the cutting apparatus,) after which the end of arm 7L comes into contact with the extension 4]. on link 40 and operates the printing device to make an impression on the upper strip in an obvious manner, when the upper two slips are severed from the strips by tearing against the edge of the top portion 8 of the case. At this time the cam c is about to leave arm a, as seen. in Fig. 1, and as it moves clear of the arm the frame H is drawn back to its normal position by spring 23, when finger 32 on shaft 31 rides over and in front of the shoulder on arm 7L2, thereby permitting spring 33 to rock the shaft 31 backward and raise the pressurearms K, releasing the slip to be filed. Pin 14 on pawl-carrier G now comes into contact with lever M, rocking shaft 35 forward, which causes the filing-arm L (in the second and subsequent operations when there is a paper slip in the guides) to carry the slip down over the when pin 14 moves clear of the lever, permitting the latter and the filing-arm to be thrown back into normal position by counterweight m. The pin 15 on pawl-carrier Gnow contacts with a lug 58 on the inner side of the case and arrests the further backward revolution of shaft C.

It will be apparent from the drawings that in the forward revolution of shaft 0 the frame H will remain inactive, as cam 0 will simply swing arm a in the arc of a circle until the former passes clear. Furthermore, the filingarm will not be actuated in this movementof shaft 0, because pin 14: on pawl-carrier G. coming into contact with the front edge of lever M, will cause the upper section of that lever to turn on its hinge, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 3. It will be observed that each slip severed from strip 46 immediately precedes-that portion of said strip on which the last entry has been made, which latter portion is left exposed to view through the sightopening 7. The operator is thus enabled to make sure that he has made a correct entry and clear impression before the slip is severed and hidden from view.

VVhena number of slips havebeen accumu- 9o file ithdrawn, leaving the slips strung upon 5 the binder, when the ends of the latter may be bent over in the ordinary manner, binding the slips together, as in Fig. 10.- If desired, a tag 60 may be bound with the slips, as seen in Figs. 9 and 10.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an autographic register, a paper-cutter, a filing-compartment, mechanism for moving the paper into the compartment, and a movable arm for piling the paper within the compartment.

2. In an autographic register, acutter forsevering a strip of paper into slips, and a file no the paper to the compartment, and an arm for removing the paper from the guides and piling it in the compartment.

4. In an autographic register, a filing-compartment containing a file for receiving slips of paper, and means for supporting a slip prior to filing, in combination with a filingarm for placing the slip upon the file.

5. In an autographic register, a filing-compartment containing a file for receiving slips of paper, and means for supporting a slip prior to filing, in combination with an automatically-actuated filing-arm for placing the slip upon the file.

6. In an autographic register, a filing-compartment containing a file, a paper-carrying roll, feeding mechanism for moving the paper forward, a cutter for severing the paper into slips, and a slip-support within the filingcompartment for supporting the paper previous to filing.

7. In an autographic register, a case provided with a filing-compartment having a file arranged therein, and a feed-roller located adjacent to the said compartment, in combination with guides extending within the filingcompartment and at an angle to the file, a paper-cutter for cutting a strip of paper into slips, and a filing-arm for forcing a severed slip onto the file.

8. In an autographic register in which a writing-tablet, a number of strips of paper, and interposed manifolding material are employed, mechanism for propelling the paper through the register, and a paper-cutter for cutting the under strip of paper into slips, in combination with mechanism intermediate the cutter, and the propelling operating in echanism, whereby the said paper is severed by the action of the propelling operating mechanism.

9. In an autographic register, a feed-roller, a paper-cutter, and a removable arm, to which the movable blade of the cutter is connected, in combination with a shaft and mechanisms carried thereby for actuating, respectively, the feed-roller and the movable arm.

10. In an autographic register in which a writing-tablet, a number of strips of paper, arid interposed manifolding material are employed, feeding mechanism capable of being revolved in one direction only, while its propelling mechanism is revoluble in either direction, and a paper-cutter for cutting the under strip of paper into slips, in combination with mechanism intermediate the papercutter and the propelling operating mechanism, whereby the paper is severed by the reverse movement of the latter.

11. In an autographic register, a feed-roller revoluble in one direction only, a paper-cutter, and amovable frame to which one blade of the cutter is attached, in combination with a shaft revoluble in either direction, and separate mechanisms carried by the shaft for engaging, respectively, with the feed-roller and with a movable arm attached to the frame,

whereby when the shaft is turned in one dito place the slips upon the file.

13. In an autographic register in which a writing-tablet, a plurality of strips of paper, and interposed manifolding material are employed, a case having an opening in its top for the exit of the upper strip or strips, and a eeaces sight-opening forward of the exit-opening, in combination with mechanism for feeding the paper forward, a support for the under strip beneath the sight-opening, and an automatically-actuated paper-cutter for severing the under strip into slips, said cutter being located in the path of travel of said strip forward of the sight-opening, whereby the slip immediately preceding the last one written upon, which latter is visible through the sightopening, is severed before the visible slip is moved from its position.

14. In an autographic register, a paper-carrying roll, means for feeding the paper forward from said roll, and a paper-cutter, incombination with guides for directing the paper in the path of the cutter, pressure-arms coacting with said guides for holding the paper while being severed, and a movable arm for removing the severedslip from the guides.

15. In an autographic register,a paper-carrying roll, means for feeding the paper forward from said roll, and a paper-cutter, in com bination with guides for directing the paper in the path of the cutter, pressure-arms coacting with said guides for holding the paper while being severed, a file, and a movable arm for removing the severed slip from the guides and placing it upon the file.

16. In an autographic register,a paper-carrying roll, means for feeding the paper forward from said roll, and a paper-cutter, in com-- bination with guides for directing the paper in the path of the cutter, automatically-actuated pressure-arms coacting with said guides for holding the paper while being severed, a file, and an automatically-actuated movable arm for removing the severed slip from the guides and placing it upon the file.

17. In an autographic register, a paper-car-- rying roll and a feed-roller, the latter being revoluble in one direction only and provided with ratchet-teeth upon one end, in combination with a pawl-carrier revoluble in either direction for engaging with the teeth to turn the under strip of paper into slips, in combi-' nation with a movable arm,to which one blade of the cutter is pivoted, and a spring carried by the arm and bearin g against the under side of the said blade for keeping the cutting-edges of the two blades in close contact while the paper is being severed.

19. In an autographic register,a paper-carrying roll, a main shaft revoluble in either direction, and a feed-roller mounted upon said shaft and revoluble with it onlyin a forward direction, in combination with apaper-cutter automatically actuated to sever the paper on a backward revolution of said shaft.

20. In an autographic register, a papercarrying roll, a main shaft revoluble in either dimotion, and a feed-roller mounted on said shaft and revoluble with it only in a forward direction, in combination with a paper-cutter,

a sliding arm to which one blade of the cutrying roll and a feed-roller, the latter being ievoluble in a forward direction only, in combination with a paper-cutter, a movable arm to which one blade of the cutter is attached, a shaft revoluble in either direction, a pawlcarrier on said shaft for turning the roller, and a cam carried by the shaft for actuating the movable arm on a backward revolution of the shaft. 7

22. In an autographic register, a shaft anda pawlcarrier mounted thereon provided with a laterally-projecting pin, in combination with a rock-shaft carrying a filing-arm and a lever, the latter engaging the said pin, whereby when the said carrier is turned the rock-shaft will be rocked and thus operatet-he filing-arm.

23. In an autographic register, a shaft and a pawl-carrier mounted thereon provided with a laterally-projecting pin, in combination with a rock-shaft carrying a filing-arm returning the frame to its normal position after having been actuated by the cam.

25. In an autographic register, a feed-roller provided with ratchet-teeth at one end, a papercutter, and guides for supporting a strip of paper while being severed by the said outter, in combination with a sliding frame, to which one blade of the paper-cutter is attached, a shaft carrying, respectively, a pawlcarrier for engaging with the ratchet-teeth, and a cam for engaging with the sliding frame, a shaft carrying pressurearms designed to coact with the guides to hold the paper strip taut while being severed, and fingers carried by the latter shaft, one of which fingers engages with the sliding frame to bring the pressure-arms into engagement with the paper strip and the other connects witha spring for moving the pressure-arms out of engagement with the paper strip.

26. In an autographic register,a paper-cutter and a printing device, in combination with a sliding frame for actuating the paper-cutter and the printing device, and mechanism, substantially as described, for actuating the sliding frame:

27. In an autographic registena paper-cutter, a printing device, and a series of pressure-arms, in combination with a sliding frame which actuates the said mechanisms, and means, substantially as described, for actuat ing the sliding frame.

28. In an autographic register, a printing device, arms connecting with the handle thereof, and pivoted links connecting with the arms, one of which links is provided with an extension, in combination with a sliding frame which contacts with the said extension to depress the stamp and make an impression and mechanism for actuating the said frame.

JOHN KIRBY, J R. Vitnesses:

E. B. LEHMAN, .ED. L. SPENCER. 

